Pats backroom let down Brady AGAIN

Brady6 said:

Ron Rivera said he knows how to play tight end that is good, I know how to play tight end too; it does not mean I can play the position in the NFL.

Click to expand...

What??????????

Wow, up to know you've been claiming that NFL-shunned 'scouting experts' knew better than actual professionals.

Now you are claiming you know as much about Brandon Lafell as Ron Rivera does?

Is Lafell an every down TE posibility? Hell no, he's not big enough. Can he fill the "Y" role for 5-10 plays per game? The professional highly paid NFL coach who worked with Lafell day in and day out (not you) says yes. Throw a possibility of Mark Harrison at 6'3" 230lbs in there along with Dustin Keller (if he's healthy) and you have 3.5 pretty good TE's and can lose Hoomanawanui and DJ Williams.

Those in the Pats front office have bigger concerns for their football team than Tom Brady winning another Super bowl. They want to assure thay they are in the running for a SB for years to come, and not for one player or one year.

Having said that, I believe their best chance is now. I want them to get at least one more high impact play-maker prior to the season to assure that my boy TFB wins another.

shmessy said:

Whoa!!!!!!!

You gave a rush-by-rush summary of the first half runs. Then you quickly say "First drive of 2nd half had 5 runs, as the Patriots moved the ball from their 20 to the Denver 29, but failed to convert on 4th down. After that, it was 23-3 with 12 minutes left in the game, and no time to keep screwing around with a struggling run game."

Why the difference in detail there, Deus? Could it have been that those 5 runs were for 23 yards (4.6 avg) and that one of them was merely a botched Brady fall forward for 2 yards - -without that one it was 4 for 21 (5.25 avg).

I can't imagine you didn't use the same detail there that you did for the first half runs in an attempt to massage the point or anything.........

Click to expand...

The reason I didn't list the second half carries individually is because they aren't individually important. They failed to score on the first drive, while running the ball 5 times, and it then became a 3 TD game with just 12 minutes left to play, meaning running the ball as a strategy was no longer an option.

You would know this if you'd seen the game or done any research into how it went down. I say that because you'd never be here trolling....

Not you.

Belichick goes out and gets (1) revis and browner to provide us with a pair of shut down corners, (2) beefs up the offensive line in the draft; and (3) signs will smith and drafts dominique easley to whom some compare to john randle.

And some of you are complaining? On paper this is the best patriots team I've seen since the 2007 squad and might even be better in certain areas.

English Patriot said:

I am DELIGHTED that they decided to beef up this D to the extreme in the offseason but you do understand that you need at least a modicum of Offense to succeed don't you? You seriously can't just expect the D to do great work and then not have a pass offense to help? In case you missed the SB Seattle's receiving corps TORE the Broncos to shreds to go along with that defensive performance.

Click to expand...

You do know that we have "at least a modicum of offense", right? Didn't we finish 3rd in points scored and top 10 in yards gained?

We still have every offensive piece minus Blount and should have Gronk to start the season and with a tiny bit of luck Amendola and Vereen won't be lost week 1.

We made an emphasis to fix the REAL problem with the offense, which was pass blocking.

It's not just a saying, NFL games are won or lost in the trenches. We've added defensive end and tackle help, both in terms of pass rush and run D with the return of Kelly, Wilfork, and additions of Smith and Easley as well as added a potential starting C and legitimate guard competition whether it's Fleming taking over the reserve tackle spot so Canon can move inside or another Rookie beating Dan C.

The offense and Defense have both improved by a large margin on paper and the team looks to be even tougher and more physical than last year.

james87654 said:

I like BB's approach of always building long term instead of putting everything into a year or two. Denver is 0-2 with manning and this approach.

Click to expand...

Isn't BB 0-2 in the time Manning has been with Denver?

Deus Irae said:

I'll probably lead the board in negative responses (disagree/dislike), and I don't care. I post on another board that uses negative rep, so it's going to be water off a duck's back, as far as I'm concerened. Others will care though...

Click to expand...

The man doth protest too much, methinks.

AzPatsFan said:

How can TE be "weak" when you own the best TE in the League?

Click to expand...

Because he's injured a helluva lot.

Deus Irae said:

The reason I didn't list the second half carries individually is because they aren't individually important. They failed to score on the first drive, while running the ball 5 times, and it then became a 3 TD game with just 12 minutes left to play, meaning running the ball as a strategy was no longer an option.

Click to expand...

They scored no TD's on any of those 1st half drives that you listed in detail either.

Your tap dancing is world class! Everyone sees right through that.

Snake Eyes said:

Because he's injured a helluva lot.

Click to expand...

Tight end depth, or the lack thereof.

English Patriot said:

Did they not get the memo? Tom needs help! Forehead over in Denver is throwing to all pros but once again when needing to get receiving help Brady will be asked to throw to UFA rookies like Kenbrell Thompkins for miracle game winning TD's.

They had stud tight ends and abundance of good college receivers sitting there at every pick waiting to be taken but instead decide to take a player that could have been had later on.

They must be expecting some serious year 2 jumps from what they already have and think Amendola is going to REALLY turn into Welker this time because without even knowing if Gronk will be 100% ready to go they did nothing in free agency to help and nothing in the draft either.

So what's the master plan now? Dustin Keller? The dude whose leg bent in half less than a year ago?

What a let down once again, but it's OK right? Tom is Tom and will find a way won't he. Pathetic if you ask me.

Click to expand...

I'm with you for the most part. I tried to say something like this but it will only reward you with a bunch of unwarranted criticism.

The TE situation was not addressed adequately even if Keller is signed. Lack of another TE threat last season hurt and I guess we are now totally comfortable relying on Gronk's health?

Is Lafell supposed to be some secret weapon? Carolina fans didn't seem to think so and I put more stock in their evaluations with the guy. He is just an additional above average receiver.

No other worthwhile additions to the receiving core. Dobson is the only guy who has flashes of stardom and I confess myself pleasantly surprised that now more and more seem to be placing their faith in his progress.

KT and Boyce have nothing to suggest a second year jump.

It is the same passing offense, littered with players who have noteworthy injury issues.

The offense is by no means bad but the Broncos defense is substantially improved...which was a weak defense we totally whiffed against in the AFCCG. Meanwhile if we get by them there are elite defenses over in the NFC. But we decided to stay with the same.

The team is very good but it is a disappointment that the best we could do for Tom is Brandon Lafell. But don't acknowledge this, or else anticipate the bashing.

MassPats38 said:

Maroney ran for a 100 yards in the other two playoff games. Other than when the Giants were missing 2 of the 4 starting defensive linemen, did any running back torch that line?

Click to expand...

There's a difference between being torched and being effective enough to keep the defense honest. Between our O-line and Maroney we couldn't keep the Giants D honest and they were able to go after Brady.

I know BB is fallible, especially in GM/personnel duties. I wish he would have turned to a more aggressive style of defense sooner than he did. There are times I wish he would go more for "difference makers" instead of good "value" and "versatility" in terms of talent. I do like caserio more than pioli, as those final drafts with pioli were just awful. I like taking chances on guys like easley and gronk and hernandez, even when it doesnt work out, since thats the gamble you have to make when you never have a top 15 pick.

I have not read the thread. There will be gnashing of teeth, sarcasm, and people saying that is right and people whistling by the graveyard. How do we know Tom did not say to Bill he wants to wrap it up or Tom talked to Gisele who talked to Linda who talked to Bill or whatever?

shmessy said:

They scored no TD's on any of those 1st half drives that you listed in detail either.

Your tap dancing is world class! Everyone sees right through that.

Click to expand...

Let me try to be clearer for you:

In the first half, when the score was still even/close, the Patriots were unable to get anything going with their running game. That's why the individual runs matter there, since they show the ineffectiveness of the runs on drive after drive.

In the second half, on the Patriots first drive, the Patriots got the ball with 8:00 left in the 3rd quarter. The running game was more successful (the pasing game was working fine, too, by the way) and the team moved the ball (hence the notation that the team was able to move the ball from the NE 20 to the DEN 29). The runs were of 5,9,2,8 and -1 yards, and they failed to score as they got bogged down as they approached the Denver red zone. Then, when they got the ball back again, there was only 12 minutes left in the game, they were down by 20 points, and they didn't have the time to go with the running game as a strategy.

Pretty basic stuff. You might wish to take note of the fact that I didn't point to the run that went for -1 yard in my original post on the matter before you start making silly claims about tap dancing. One would have to be trolling, or just having a very bad day of poor thinking, not to figure out that your argument regarding the run is nonsense, so my heartfelt wishes for the speedy recovery of your mental faculties.

Kdo5 said:

I'm with you for the most part. I tried to say something like this but it will only reward you with a bunch of unwarranted criticism.

The TE situation was not addressed adequately even if Keller is signed. Lack of another TE threat last season hurt and I guess we are now totally comfortable relying on Gronk's health?

Is Lafell supposed to be some secret weapon? Carolina fans didn't seem to think so and I put more stock in their evaluations with the guy. He is just an additional above average receiver.

No other worthwhile additions to the receiving core. Dobson is the only guy who has flashes of stardom and I confess myself pleasantly surprised that now more and more seem to be placing their faith in his progress.

KT and Boyce have nothing to suggest a second year jump.

It is the same passing offense, littered with players who have noteworthy injury issues.

The offense is by no means bad but the Broncos defense is substantially improved...which was a weak defense we totally whiffed against in the AFCCG. Meanwhile if we get by them there are elite defenses over in the NFC. But we decided to stay with the same.

The team is very good but it is a disappointment that the best we could do for Tom is Brandon Lafell. But don't acknowledge this, or else anticipate the bashing.

Click to expand...

Couldn't you make the same argument in reverse? How is Denver better on Offense? And yes, the Patriots' defense should be miles ahead of where they were last year. VW, Kelly, Mayo and AA back...Revis and Browner. Another year for CJ, Hightower back where he belongs. 2nd year leap from Collins. New disruptor on the interior DL...

Pats offense this year? Three wideouts making a year 2 leap, Gronk back, Amendola healed (yeah I know, for now), deeper and bigger o-line. They should be at least as good as last year on O at this point, and I still think they're adding one or two (Keller? Sydney Rice or Holmes?).

Broncos have a MUCH tougher schedule, including 4 NFC West defenses that should give them match-up fits. Absent serious injuries again this year, it will be hard for the Pats to not have home field advantage through the playoffs.

Deus Irae said:

BB is currently on an 0-9 run with his approach. We can stop pretending he's found THE WAY. He clearly hasn't.

Click to expand...

Wait.. someone disagreed with that post? How the hell do you disagree with something that's so blatantly obvious? There is not one THE WAY. There are many avenues to the top. If Belichick's was the only way, this team would currently be at a minimum of 13 consecutive Lombardis and counting. Pointing to 0-2 when your team is 0-9 is folly.

This is an example of what we were discussing earlier. This negative system is going to be a real problem if people can't start using their heads.

Deus Irae said:

Wait.. someone disagreed with that post? How the hell do you disagree with something that's so blatantly obvious? There is not one THE WAY. There are many avenues to the top. If Belichick's was the only way, this team would currently be at a minimum of 13 consecutive Lombardis and counting.

This negative system is going to be a real problem if people can't start using their heads.

Click to expand...

Tempted to Disagree with this.

james87654 said:

I know BB is fallible, especially in GM/personnel duties. I wish he would have turned to a more aggressive style of defense sooner than he did. There are times I wish he would go more for "difference makers" instead of good "value" and "versatility" in terms of talent. I do like caserio more than pioli, as those final drafts with pioli were just awful. I like taking chances on guys like easley and gronk and hernandez, even when it doesnt work out, since thats the gamble you have to make when you never have a top 15 pick.

Click to expand...

This sounds like Felger babble, is Gronk a difference maker? was Ahern a difference maker? Can Easley be a difference maker? I think BB goes for good players that fit into his system, he's always building a team not collecting all pros.

Kdo5 said:

I'm with you for the most part. I tried to say something like this but it will only reward you with a bunch of unwarranted criticism.

The TE situation was not addressed adequately even if Keller is signed. Lack of another TE threat last season hurt and I guess we are now totally comfortable relying on Gronk's health?

Click to expand...

I just don't get this. We have the best TE in football. He has suffered injuries the last 2 years. Therefore people expect us to somehow get a guy to step in and be as good in the event he gets injured. It just doesn't work that way. You cannot waster resources on having a great backup. If Gronk goes down, we de-emphasize the TE position. That is the only sensible thing to do. I understand people are asking for a 2 TE offense, but that does nothing to address if Gronk goes down, because we are still short the best TE in the NFL, whether that means his backup is part of a 1 TE offense or a 2 TE offense.

Is Lafell supposed to be some secret weapon? Carolina fans didn't seem to think so and I put more stock in their evaluations with the guy. He is just an additional above average receiver.

Click to expand...

Agreed

No other worthwhile additions to the receiving core. Dobson is the only guy who has flashes of stardom and I confess myself pleasantly surprised that now more and more seem to be placing their faith in his progress.

Click to expand...

The receiver group is put together. It needs to develop.

KT and Boyce have nothing to suggest a second year jump.

Click to expand...

Second year jumps are rarely predictable, and these 2 guys are fighting for a roster spot any way. I doubt both make the team.

It is the same passing offense, littered with players who have noteworthy injury issues.

Click to expand...

It is. What is wrong with that. It was effective last year, improved as the season went on, and LaFell is new, Edelman is in his second year as a true WR and part of the rotation and the rest now have one year experience with Brady. Everything says there is a plan in place.

The offense is by no means bad but the Broncos defense is substantially improved...which was a weak defense we totally whiffed against in the AFCCG. Meanwhile if we get by them there are elite defenses over in the NFC. But we decided to stay with the same.

Click to expand...

I think we are making OL changes, and again, we would expect to see better health. No team can say they are prepared to be just as good if there are injuries to the top line guys. We were not last year which means we will be much better with health.

The team is very good but it is a disappointment that the best we could do for Tom is Brandon Lafell. But don't acknowledge this, or else anticipate the bashing.

Click to expand...

Personally, i think improving the defense is the best thing you can do for Brady. I'm sure allowing the opponent fewer points means more to him that his stats.